Gay Bishop Plans to Marry Partner

MANCHESTER, NH -- Gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, who is at the center of the Anglican Church's global battle over homosexuality, said Thursday he plans to enter into a civil union with his partner next year.

Robinson wants to hold separate religious and legal ceremonies to set a precedent for how marriages and civil unions are performed in the United States. He said that separating "the civil rights from the religious rites" may inspire greater acceptance from those who would hesitate in offering rights to same-sex couples

He and his partner of more than 18 years, Mark Andrews, aim to hold two ceremonies around the middle of next year: a non-religious one where they become legal partners followed by a church service to give blessings to God for their relationship.

"Religious people and religious organizations who are not yet ready to offer the churches or the synagogues blessings on such unions, might be supportive of full civil rights for this country's gay and lesbian citizens," he told Reuters in an interview.

Robinson praised New Hampshire for allowing same-sex civil unions but believe the state should go even further, legalizing gay marriage all together.

"It won't be full equality until it is equal," he said.

New Hampshire's civil union law, which Governor John Lynch is set to sign in the next week, would go into effect January 1st, 2008.